Classical Ballet Graduation performance of the Vaganova Russian Ballet Academy World famous Mariinsky Ballet and Opera - established 1783
Schedule for Graduation performance of the Vaganova Russian Ballet Academy 2022
Artistic director of the academy: Altynai Asylmuratova
Orchestra: Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra
The Vaganova Ballet Academy is the most prestigious in Russia. It is the main
source for the Kirov Ballet, now renamed to Mariinsky Ballet and for the Bolshoi
Ballet. The renowned Vaganova Ballet Academy was founded in 1738 by Empress
Anna as the Imperial Theater. It has produced almost every major Russian and
Soviet ballet star, from Baryshnikov and Nureyev to contemporary geniuses like
Zhanna Ayupova, Farouk Ruzimatov and Anastasia Volochkova. The Vaganova staff
does have a perfect record in assessing talent which is at best an inprecise
science. Volochkova, a world-known ballerina with the Mariinsky’s Kirov ballet
company, than with Bolshoi Ballet and finally with Maestro Yury Grigorovich
Ballet, was actually rejected by the Vaganova the first two times she
auditioned, winning acceptance only the third time.
History
On May 4th, 1738 in St. Petersburg, the young capital of Russia, an event
took place which was to have great significance to the culture of the world. By
Imperial Decree of the Empress Anna, the first Russian School of Theatrical
Dance was founded. Known as the Imperial Theatre School it was the initiative of
the French ballet master and teacher, Jean-Baptiste Lande. Twelve girls and
twelve boys began to study "the foreign steps" on one of the upper floors of the
Winter Palace.
The early teachers were from western Europe - Lande himself and
later Franz Hilferding and Giovanni Canzianni. The first Russian teacher to
emerge from the school was Ivan Valberg, who produced many notable ballets and
whose teaching really prepared the way for the great Charles Didelot.
Didelot came to St. Petersburg in 1801 and took over the direction of the
ballet. He taught at the Imperial Theatre School for over twenty years, spending
two long periods in Russia (1801-1811, 1816-1837), producing many ballets, and
raising the level of ballet education to a very high standard.
Following Didelot, more teachers of the French School came to St. Petersburg.
Jules Perrot, whose ballets "Giselle" and "Esmeralda" are still performed today.
Another Artur Saint Leon, who produced "Coppelia" and "The Little Humpbacked
Horse". And then in 1847, a teacher who was to profoundly influence the school:
Marius Petipa.
During the second half of the 19th Century, the great ballet master Marius
Petipa created 46 original ballets, many of which are still performed today on
the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre, and throughout the world. Together with Lev
Ivanov, Petipa collaborated with the great composer Petr Tchaikovsky, and his
ballets "Swan Lake", "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker" form the cornerstone
of the repertoire of the classical ballet companies.
The French influence on the Imperial Ballet School was enhanced by
the teaching of Christian Johannson, Swedish by birth and a pupil of August
Bournonville. Johannson taught at the school for over 30 years from 1860,
bringing refinement to the classical style in a clear and codified form. One of
his pupils was Pavel Gerdt who became a famous dancer and teacher.
But it was the appearance of three Italian dancers which amazed St.
Petersburg audiences. The sheer virtuosity of Enrico Cecchetti, Carlotta Brianza
and Pierina Legnani, with their brilliant pirouettes and astonishing speed of
footwork brought new vigour to the Russian Ballet.
Cecchetti was engaged as ballet master to the Imperial Theatre and this
blending of Johannson’s Franco-Russian style with the exhilaration of the
Italian school produced some of the greatest dancers of all time. The names of
Anna Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina, Vaslav Nijinsky, Mathilde Kschesinskaya, Olga
Preobrajenskaya, Sergey and Nicolay Legat, and Olga Spesivtseva, are famous the
world over. All of them have contributed to the history of ballet.
Fokin was a great innovator. He believed that natural movements were the
fundamentals of ballet forms. He had a great influence on the school where he
created several ballets. One of these “Chopiniana” - renamed "Les Sylphides" by
Diaghilev - is still performed regularly by the school.
Fokin’s ideas on choreography met with some resistance from the conservative
establishment of the Imperial Theatre, but he found great support from Sergey
Diaghilev with whom he produced many of his most famous ballets including "The
Firebird" and "Petrushka".In the years after the Revolution, the teaching
traditions of the oldest ballet school in Russia progressed greatly. The work
resulting from the great teacher Agrippina Vaganova formed a new era in ballet
education.
Vaganova had graduated from the school in 1897, and began teaching
in 1921 at the now re-named Leningrad State Choreographic School. Her book "The
Principles of Classical Dance" heads the list of numerous works produced by
teachers of the school. And her most famous pupils - dancers like Marina
Semenova, Alexey Yermolaev, Galina Ulanova, Vakhtang Chabukiani, Natalia
Dudinskaya, Konstantin Sergeyev and Irina Kolpakova - became the pride of the
Soviet Ballet. Agrippina Vaganova’s role in the development of the school cannot
be overstated, and in 1957, six years after her death, it was named after her.
Not only does the school produce artists, but also future choreographers.
Fedor Lopukhov, Vassily Vainonen, Rostislav Zakharov, Leonid Lavrovsky and
Leonid Yacobson were all famous graduates. So too were Yuri Grigorovitch, the
Director of the Bolshoi Ballet, and Oleg Vinogradov, the Director of the Kirov
Ballet.
George Balanchine, the internationally acclaimed choreographer and the
founder of the New York City Ballet was a product of St. Petersburg training,
and he graduated in 1921 together with ballerina and teacher Alexandra Danilova.
St. Petersburg has also influenced the development of the Bolshoi Theatre of
the USSR. Nina Timofeyeva, Svetlana Adyrkhaeva and Ludmilla Semenyaka all began
their ballet careers in St. Petersburg and later established themselves as
leading figures of the Bolshoi stage. In the late 50s and 60s, three graduates
who were to attract international fame and recognition began their professional
dancing lives on the Mariinsky Stage: Rudolf Nureyev, Natalia Makarova and
Mikhail Baryshnikov. All three developped the traditions of the Vaganova Academy
in the major ballet companies of the western world.
Each year, Vaganova graduates replenish the ranks of the leading
theatres of Russia , and the stars of the Mariinsky Ballet are known worldwide.
Dancers like Galina Mezentseva, Tatiana Terekhova, Altynai Asylmuratova (the
Artistic Director of Vaganova Ballet Academy), Farukh Ruzimatov, Konstantin
Zaklinsky participated in extensive foreign tours and make guest appearances
with leading ballet companies.
The contemporary dancers graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy: Farukh
Ruzimatov, Uliana Lopatkina, Diana Vishneva, Igor Zelensky, Svetlana Zakharova,
Andrian Fadeyev.
Since 1836 the school has been situated on Rossi Street (formerly Theatre
Street), and today has over 300 students. The competition for a place at the
school is fierce. Throughout the school year nearly 4,000 children visit for
consultation with ballet staff to assess their suitability. 300 of these
children from St. Petersburg and other regions of the country are selected and
auditioned by the school’s Examining Board. Of these approximately 60 will be
accepted for the 1st Grade. Even then it’s extremely hard work to train for a
full time professional career, and only 25 or so students will actually complete
their studies and graduate.
To be eligible for entry, pupils must have finished their primary school
education (9-10 years old). During the month of June, the auditions take place
and these are divided into 3 sections. The first examination deals with the
physical aptitude of the child: the proportions, height of jump, degree of
turnout and so on. The child’s general appearance is taken seriously into
account.
The second examination is judged by medical specialists who determine the
future possibilities of the child. Good health is as important to the future
dancer’s career as a beautiful physique.
Thirdly, there is a section to assess the child’s musicality, rhythm,
co-ordination and artistic talent. Having successfully passed these three
sections of the audition, the pupil begins an eight year course of study.
From the first year the curriculum consists of dance training,
general secondary school education, French language lessons and piano tuition.
As they progress through the school, the pupils master a more intensive and
varied programme in their dance subjects. In the first grade the pupils study
classical and historical dance. In the fourth grade they have lessons of
character dance and in the sixth grade they begin to study pas de deux and mime.
The staff of the school consists of 75 dance teachers, 30 piano teachers, 40
teachers of general education and 40 pianists. The teachers strive to develop
artistic style, strict academic execution and the feeling of ensemble.
Regular performances on the stages of the Mariinsky and Maly Theatres, as
well as gala performances and frequent concerts on the stage of the school
theatre, give pupils invaluable experience of stagecraft.
At the end of the 8th grade, the students have their graduating examinations
on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. The most talented will be offered
contracts by the Mariinsky, and the other’ graduates will have the opportunity
to fill vacancies throughout the theatres of the Russia.
The school’s Artistic Director is Altynai Asylmuratova. A former dancer and
choreographer of world renown, she works closely with the Director, Leonid
Nadirov, who manages the academy. 1988 marked the 250th anniversary of the
school’s foundation. Throughout history it has endeavored to preserve and
enhance the best traditions of the classical heritage. Today that quest for
artistic excellence continues so that the work of the school, which has
blossomed into the Russian ballet we know today, will continue to flourish for
the future.
Copyright © 2000-2005 Vaganova
Ballet Academy. All rights reserved.
Schedule for Graduation performance of the Vaganova Russian Ballet Academy 2022
Graduation performance of the Vaganova Russian Ballet Academy |
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